Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I do, however, own the random species of reptiles that I create, as well as Parseltongue name translations.

Chapter 10: Flying Practice

"Get up." The voice had been bugging Solaris for a while. "If you don't get up, you won't get food."

It took Draco about five seconds to realise that Solaris was no longer in bed. "Did you guys see that?" he asked Blaise and Theo.

"See what?" Theo replied.

"Exactly. If I didn't know better, I would've said he apparated."

"What took you guys so long?"

"How'd you get up here so fast?" Blaise asked.

"You mentioned food." Solaris replied as he ate a piece of chicken.

"I've been wondering. Why don't you eat anything except meat?" Theo asked.

"Being raised by a gorgon and a dragon will do that to a person."

There was a bubble of silence around them as everyone registered what had just been said. In an attempt to get conversations started again, Draco said, "You know, we have flying lessons today."

"On brooms?" Solaris asked.

"Of course, how else would we fly?"

"Pass."

"Why not?" Theo asked.

"Not a big fan of brooms. Weasleys' can confirm that."

"I'm sorry," The boys heard from behind them. They turned around and saw Professor Snape. "Flying practice is mandatory."

"Dang it."

They were standing in a line across from the Gryffindors. Solaris was across from Neville. A woman with short gray hair and the eyes of a hawk.

Draco nudged Solaris. "Stop staring at the teacher."

Solaris looked away. "Sorry, it's the eyes. They look like a hawk's."

"I don't see wh…." Draco paused for a moment. "Oh. It's the snake in you isn't it."

"Yep."

"Got it."

After Madam Hooch had explained the directions, They tried to summon their brooms.

"Up." Solaris's broom flew into his hand on the first try. Draco's did as well. It took everyone else a few tries to get their brooms, but once everyone had theirs, Madam Hooch continued with the instructions.

Everyone had been flying for a while, when Neville's broom started flying all over the place. Madam Hooch had everyone land while she attempted to get his broom back under control. After he had crashed, he'd been taken to the Hospital wing. The rest of the students got a warning not to fly while she was gone.

Solaris saw one of the Slytherin girls, Pansy Parkinson, he thought he remembered, pick up something from where Neville had landed. "Look at this," she said, "Longbottom dropped a remembrall."

Solaris walked over before anyone else could, and said, "I recommend that you hand that over before anyone gets hurt, Pansy."

"What are you going to do about it?" she said as she climbed on her broom and lifted off.

Solaris was about to unfurl his wings and take off after her, when someone hit him in the head with a broom. "Forgetting something?" He turned and saw Ron holding out the broom.

"Thanks." he said as he took the broom. He went into the air, and started chasing after Pansy. After about two minutes of chasing, Draco and Blaise joined in. after two more minutes of that, Pansy panicked, and threw the remembrall at a group of teachers that had just come out of the castle. Draco got there first, and accidentally used his broom to deflect it upwards.

Blaise got to it next, and accidentally diverted it with his broom too. It was headed towards a window when Solaris caught it. As the three of them landed (Pansy had landed when everyone was distracted), McGonagall came rushing out. She grabbed the three of them, and went to find Snape for punishment.

After explaining the situation, she left them alone with Snape. After a few moments, he said, "Fifteen points will be taken from Slytherin for disobeying rules. As further punishment, you all will report to the Quidditch pitch tomorrow after classes.

"Hey, Hermione!" Solaris called on his way to the field. "What's a group of snakes called?"

She eyed him curiously. "Why?"

"I don't know, I was just wondering."

"Alright. A group of snakes can be known as a den, bed, pit, knot, or nest."

"Or pricks." he heard a passing Gryffindor mutter.

"Why don't we come up with a name for us?" Solaris asked his friends as they waited for Snape. Theo had decided to tag along to watch them suffer. Jerk.

"What are you talking about?" Draco asked.

"I mean, similar to the legendary Marauders."

"Oh."

"I asked Granger what a group of snakes was called. I think the one that fits most would be knot."

"The Knot," Theo said aloud, "It's simple, and kind of catchy. I like it."

"Should we also come up with codenames like the Marauders did?" Blaise asked.

Solaris thought about it for a minute. "Sure, why not. You can be Boa."

"Why Boa?"

"Because we're snakes, so I thought it would be appropriate. Besides, it fits you. Draco can be Viper, Theo can be Python, and I can be Cobra. We could also call the Common the Den."

"They definitely fit," they heard behind them. Turning around, they saw the Slytherin Quidditch team walking towards them.

"No way." Theo said. "That's completely unfair."

"Snape told us that we had some new players waiting for us here." Marcus Flint said. "A seeker, and two beaters." He looked at Theo for a moment before asking, "How good are you? We could really use a new Keeper as well."

By the end of the day, the four of them were extremely tired, but couldn't wait to see the looks on the Gryffindor's faces at the end of the week.